IOD North American Invitational Regatta overall

IOD North American Invitational Regatta was hosted by the Nantucket IOD Fleet Association during 15th to 18th September. The teams hailed from Northeast Harbor, Me., San Francisco, Ca. Marblehead, Ma., Fishers Island, NY., and Nantucket, Ma.

Defending Champion Ed Kavle was on hand to challenge the others for the win. On the first day of racing the fleet was greeted by very large (5ft - 6ft) seas and a stiff 20 knot breeze caused by passing Hurricane Maria (Cat.1) who made landfall on Newfoundland a day later.

After a short scheduled practice race, the fleet proved they were up to the conditions and the first race got underway. The winds began to moderate while the seas remained large requiring full concentration by all crews. At the weather mark, Nantucket Team - Sierra rounded ahead of San Francisco’s John Wright and Marblehead’s Ian Morrison. These three would become the major players at the end of the regatta. Nantucket’s Team Sierra went on to a commanding win. This was an indicator of events to follow.

In the second race of the day, the wind dissipated to such an extent that the boats were left to struggle upwind in a still lumpy sea helping the crews that could change gears to extend. The course was shorted to three legs before the wind died completely and races were called for the day. Weedon picked up his second win of the day which was capped by a dinner and awards at the Nantucket Yacht Club.

Day two dawned bright and sunny with relatively flat water and a shifty 7 -11 knot breeze oscillating through 30 degrees around a medium wind direction of 060 degrees. With Race Committee giving the fleet four solid races, Team Sierra extended their lead in the regatta with three wins and a seventh place that latter race being won by local sailor Peter McCausland. The day concluded with a fleet dinner and awards presentation at the new Great Harbor Yacht Club.

Sunday dawned grey, colder and windy with a similarly shifty breeze around an average 085 degrees but with an increased strength of 16 -20 knots. Two longer races were held in the conditions that lead to many critical moments downwind, the only casualty being three spinnakers.

Once again Team Sierra – helmsman Roy Weedon, and crew Colin Sykes, Tom Darling, Chris Gould and Kevin Farrar showed their superior ability to read the shifts and if not leading at the windward mark could always claw back to the front. The result – two more wins and a Regatta total of seven wins out of eight races!! The real battle this final day took place between San Francisco – John Wright and Marblehead - Ian Morrison with San Francisco overtaking Marblehead in the standing to finish second overall and Marblehead rounding out the top three.

Cold, weary, but happy sailors gathered round the fireplaces at GHYC for welcoming bowls of Chili and good cheer at the Bar. The intimate setting was perfect for the Prize giving and send-off to the visiting teams. Nantucket’s IOD Fleet looks forward to hosting other IOD fleets in the not too distant future.